Wireless device for displaying integrated computer and television user interfaces

ABSTRACT

A two-way wireless local transmission system integrates computer and television user interfaces. A television set-top device includes a separate transmitter and receiver. The transmitter converts an audio and video signal into a modulated signal within the 902-928 MHz frequency band and transmits the modulated signal to a receiver associated with a computer peripheral device. The receiver downconverts the modulated signal and processes the signal within the computer. The computer processed signal is then sent by a transmitter in the computer peripheral device to the receiver in the set-top device, which provides the signal to a television receiver which displays images in response to the received signals.

This application is a continuation of prior application 08/719,260 filedSep. 24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,437.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the integration of personal computerswith television using wireless local signal transmissions.

2. Description of Related Art

For years, the television has been the center of entertainment in theaverage American household. Over these years, televisions havecontinually improved by providing among other things better picturequality, better sound and larger screens. However, even with all theadvances in television technology, televisions remained only as a sourceto display the programs broadcast by the networks.

The advent of personal computers provided many households with a newaddition to their entertainment system. However, in addition toentertaining, many people have found the personal computer to be aproductive addition to the house. The computer can be used for a widevariety of activities ranging from playing games to paying bills.

In recent years, many households have sought to combine theentertainment of a television with the flexibility of a computer. Bycombining the two systems, they are able to enhance the televisionviewing experience. A computer-television combination makes it possibleto create a “smarter” television that allows not only static viewing,but the ability to interact and control the programming.

Current integration of personal computers with television is performedthrough wired technology. An antenna or a video source is directlyconnected to the computer through a cable. The computer overlaysgraphical user interfaces and then distributes the integrated video tothe television through another cable connection.

In a typical house, the living room includes a cable or antennaconnection for the television, and an office or a bedroom includes thepersonal computer. The computer is usually connected to a phone line bya modem to access the Internet or other on-line services. In the past,if a user wanted to integrate their computer and television, either thecomputer had to be moved to the living room or the television had to bemoved to the office or to the bedroom. Unfortunately, neither of theseoptions are desirable. Most families want their television to remain inthe living room, usually a larger room and the evening gathering placefor family entertainment. Also, these families did not want to move adesk with the computer into the living room for both aesthetic andpractical reasons, because additional wiring usually has to be installedfor use with the computer. For example, if the computer is moved to theliving room, an additional phone jack must be installed to connect themodem. Similarly, if the television is moved to the den, an additionalantenna or cable connection must be installed. What is needed is adevice that allows users to integrate computers and televisions whileallowing the computer and the television to be located in separate roomsof the house thereby minimizing the need to co-locate items or toinstall additional wiring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention creates a two-way wireless connection between apersonal computer and a video source. The wireless connection allows thecomputer to be located in a different room than the video source and thetelevision. Television signals are sent to the computer via the wirelessconnection so that the television signals can be integrated withcomputer data. The computer includes software applications and caninclude a modem. With the present invention, the modem can be located inone room and used by a user in a different room to browse the Internetor to access other on-line services. After the computer processes thedata, the results are sent via the wireless connection back to thetelevision to be displayed to the user.

One aspect of the present invention is a method of establishing awireless connection between a video device and a computer. The methodcomprises the steps of receiving a television signal at a first locationand upconverting the television signal. The upconverted signal is thentransmitted from the first location and is received at a secondlocation. The upconverted signal is downconverted at the second locationand the downconverted signal is processed by the computer to producedigital video data. The digital video data is converted into analogcomposite video, which is then upconverted and transmitted from thesecond location back to the first location. The upconverted analogcomposite video is received at the first location, where the upconvertedanalog composite video is downconverted and input into a video device.

Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless connection betweena television and a computer. The wireless connection comprises a firsttransmitter which receives a television signal and broadcasts thetelevision signal over a first channel. A first receiver receives anddownconverts the television signal for use by the computer. A videoprocessor in communication with the computer converts the televisionsignal into digital video data. A video encoder receives the digitalvideo data from the video processor and converts the digital video datainto an analog composite video. A second transmitter receives the analogcomposite video from the video encoder and broadcasts the analogcomposite video over a second channel, where a second receiver receivesand downconverts the analog composite video for use by the television.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram which shows the television set-top device usedin the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram which shows the computer peripheral deviceused in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A two-way wireless device 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1 for local two-waywireless transmission of signals between a computer 131 and a televisionor other display device 164. The transmissions are provided within the902-928 MHz frequency band. This band has been established for thesepurposes by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Avideo source 102, such as a coaxial cable, outputs baseband video andaudio signals. It will be appreciated that any suitable source of videoand/or audio signals, such as a video disk player, video cassetterecorder (VCR), satellite dish, etc., may replace the coaxial cable asthe video source 102 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. A transmitter 106receives the baseband video and audio signals through a line 104.

The transmitter 106 modulates a selectable carrier to produce amodulated carrier having a frequency of either 912 MHz or 922 MHz andoutputs the modulated carrier along a line 108 to a transmitting antenna110. More specifically, the transmitter 106 includes a modulator whichis provided with the baseband video and audio signals and serves toselectably produce a conventionally modulated television signal withineither television broadcast channel 3 or channel 4, as established bythe FCC. The conventional television signal in turn modulates theselected carrier to produce a transmitter output signal 108 at either912 MHz or 922 MHz, as selected by the user. It will therefore beappreciated that the transmitter 106 is also capable of receiving aninput signal within either television broadcast channel 3 or channel 4and directly modulating the carrier with the received signal. In otherwords, the transmitter 106 converts a television signal including audioand video signal components to an upconverted broadcast video signal 112within the 902 MHz-928 MHz local transmission frequency band.

In accordance with FCC regulations, the transmitting antenna 110 is aquarter-wave, non-directional transmitting antenna limited to 500microwatts of power. Such restrictions are intended to limit theradiated power in order to minimize interference between local wirelesstransmission systems sharing the same transmission frequencies. Antennasand transmitters meeting these specification are manufactured and can beobtained from Recoton Inc. of Long Island, N. Y.

A receiving antenna 114 is coupled to an antenna input of a receiver118. The receiving antenna 114 receives the broadcast video signal 112from the transmitting antenna 110 and provides the broadcast videosignal 112 as an input 116 to the receiver 118. The receiver 118amplifies the received signals, selects the desired signals within the902-928 MHz frequency band and downconverts the selected signals toeither television broadcast channel 3 or channel 4. The downconvertedsignals are provided by the receiver 118 via an output terminal 120 to afirst fixed input terminal of a television tuner 122. Therefore, thetelevision tuner 122 is provided with the downconverted signals from theoutput 120 of the receiver 118, so that the output of the video source102 is made available to be tuned by the television tuner 122 withoutthe need for a hard wired connection therebetween.

As is well known in the art, the television tuner 122 converts thedownconverted broadcast video signal into an analog composite videosignal, one example of which is a conventional NTSC signal. The analogcomposite video signal is then sent along a line 124 to a video decoder126. The video decoder 126 converts the incoming analog composite videosignal from the television tuner 122 into a digital video signal such asa conventional VGA signal. Video decoders capable of converting NTSC andsimilar television signals into digital video signals such as VGA arewell known in the art and can be readily obtained. After the videodecoder 126 has converted the incoming television signal from thetelevision tuner 122 into a digital video signal, the digital videosignal is supplied to both a video controller 136 via a line 132 and toapplication software 130 running on the personal computer via a line128. The computer receives computer control signals 105 from a wirelesskeyboard and pointing device (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, aRF wireless keyboard and pointing device is used as is well known in theart.

The application software 130 manipulates the digital video signalsupplied from the video decoder 126 and provides it to a user throughuser interfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the user interfaces aregraphical user interfaces, although any interface can be used. Thecomputer 131 is used to create a “smarter” television. Some examples offeatures added by the computer include accessing and displaying aprogram guide over the television video. Further, family members mayaccess the Internet to create a more interactive viewing experience ifadditional information is desired about the subject matter of a program.

After processing the digital video signal provided by the video decoder126, the application software 130 supplies the manipulated data via aline 134 to the video controller 136. The video controller 136 thencombines the raw digital video signal provided by the video decoder 126and the manipulated data provided from the computer applications 130.The video controller 136 transmits this data via a video line 138 to bedisplayed to the user on a computer video display 140. The videocontroller 136 also provides the same digital video signal to a videoencoder 144 via a line 142 so that the data is transmitted to anddisplayed by the television or other video device 164. The digital videodata on the line 142 is now a combination of the television signal sentfrom the video source 102 and any user interface signals provided by thecomputer 131 from the software applications 130, such as, for example, aprogram guide superimposed over a standard television program. The videoencoder 144 receives the digital video data on the line 142 and convertsthe digital video data into an analog composite video signal. Manyoff-the-shelf video encoders are capable of performing this conversionand are well known in the art. The analog composite video signal is sentvia a line 146 to a transmitter 148 which upconverts and amplifies thesignal. The signal is then sent via a line 150 to a transmitter antenna152 for wireless broadcast 154 over the local transmission band. Thewireless broadcast 154 is received by an antenna 156 which then sendsthe signal through a line 158 to a receiver 160. The receiver 160downconverts the local transmission signal to a local frequency band andprovides the downconverted signal along line 162 as an input to theexternal video device 164. The external video device 164 may be atelevision, a video cassette recorder or any other device capable ofreceiving video signals.

FIG. 1 shows all the components necessary to implement the two-waywireless device 100 of the present invention. It will be appreciatedhowever that, in the preferred embodiment, certain components of thetwo-way wireless device 100 will be co-located with the video device 164while other components are co-located with the computer 131. Because thecomputer 131 and the video device 164 are typically located in differentrooms of the house, separate component packages must be created toensure proper component location.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustration of a set-top device 170 to beco-located with the video device 164, usually a television. The set-topdevice 170 includes the transmitter 106, the antenna 110, the receiver160, and the receiving antenna 156. A signal is provided from the videosource 102 along the line 104 to the transmitter 106. As describedabove, the transmitter 106 upconverts and amplifies the video signal andsends the transmitter output signal 108 to the transmitter antenna 110where it is broadcast over a first channel of the local transmissionband. Simultaneously, the receiving antenna 156 receives videoinformation which has already been processed by the computer andtransmitted via a second channel of the local transmission band. Thesignal received by the receiving antenna 156 is transmitted along theline 158 to the receiver 160. The receiver 160 downconverts the computerprocessed signal and provides it via the line 162 to the video device164 to be displayed thereon. As can be seen in FIG. 2, only the firsttransmitter 106 and the second receiver 160 are actually located nearthe video device 164.

The other component of the present invention is a personal computerperipheral device 180 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The personal computerperipheral device 180 comprises the receiver 118 and the correspondingantenna 114 which receive signals via the first channel of the localtransmission band. The personal computer peripheral device 180 furthercomprises the television tuner 122, the video decoder 126, the videocontroller 136, the video encoder 144, the transmitter 148 and thecorresponding antenna 152. The transmitter 148 and the antenna 152transmit signals via the second channel of the local transmission band.In use, the antenna 114 receives signals transmitted along a firstchannel of the local transmission band and sends those signals via theline 116 to the receiver 118. As described above, the receiver 118downconverts the signals and provides them at the output 120 of thereceiver 118 to the television tuner 122. The television tuner 122converts the broadcast video signal into an analog composite videosignal which it supplies along the line 124 to the video decoder 126.The video decoder 126 converts the analog composite video signal into adigital video signal and also extracts vertical blanking interval datafrom the analog composite video signal. Both the vertical blankinginterval data and the digital video signal are supplied to a computer182 through the computer interface 128. The digital video signal is alsoprovided from the video decoder 126 to the video controller 136 througha line 132. The computer 182 uses application software 130 to processand manipulate the digital video signal and the vertical blankinginterval data provided by the video decoder 126. After processing, thecomputer 182 provides the video controller 136 manipulated video dataalong a line 134. The video controller 136 provides this data via theline 138 to the computer video display 140 for viewing at a locationnear the computer 182. The video controller 136 also transmits the dataalong the line 142 to the video encoder 144 where the data is convertedinto an analog composite video signal. The analog composite video signalis sent to the transmitter 148 where it is upconverted and amplified fortransmission through the antenna 152 over a second channel of the localtransmission band, to be received by the receiver 160 in the set-top box170.

Numerous variations and modifications of the invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the inventionmay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from itsspirit or essential characteristics. The detailed embodiment is to beconsidered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive, andthe scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to beembraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless connection between a televisionreceiver and a computer, the wireless connection comprising: a firsttransmitter proximate to the television receiver, wherein the firsttransmitter intercepts a television signal directed to the televisionreceiver and broadcasts the television signal over a first channel; afirst receiver coupled to the computer, wherein the first receiverreceives the television signal from the first transmitter anddownconverts the television signal for use by the computer; a videoprocessor in communication with the computer, wherein the videoprocessor converts the television signal into digital video data; avideo encoder which receives the digital video data from the videoprocessor and converts the digital video data into analog video; asecond transmitter coupled to the computer, wherein the secondtransmitter receives the analog video from the video encoder andbroadcasts the analog video over a second channel; and a second receivercoupled to the television receiver, wherein the second receiver receivesand downconverts the analog video for use by the television receiver. 2.The wireless connection of claim 1, wherein the video processor furthercomprises: a television tuner which receives the television signal andcreates an analog composite video signal; a video decoder which receivesthe analog composite video signal from the television tuner, wherein thevideo decoder separates the analog composite video signal into verticalblanking interval data and a digital video signal; application softwarerunning in the computer which receives the vertical blanking intervaldata from the video decoder, wherein the application softwaremanipulates the vertical blanking interval data; and a video controllerwhich receives the digital video signal from the video decoder and whichalso receives the manipulated vertical blanking interval data from thecomputer, wherein the video controller combines the digital video signaland the manipulated vertical blanking interval data to create thedigital video data.
 3. The wireless connection of claim 1, wherein thefirst transmitter and the first receiver operate within the 902-928 MHzfrequency band.
 4. The wireless connection of claim 1, wherein thesecond transmitter and the second receiver operate within the 902-928MHz frequency band.
 5. A wireless connection between a television and acomputer, the wireless connection comprising: a first peripheral devicecoupled to the television, wherein the first peripheral device receivesand transmits television signals; a second peripheral device coupled tothe computer, wherein the second peripheral device receives a televisionsignal for use by the computer; and a video controller in communicationwith the computer, wherein the video controller modifies the televisionsignal, and wherein the second peripheral device transmits the modifiedtelevision signal to the first peripheral device for use by thetelevision.
 6. The wireless connection of claim 5, wherein the firstperipheral device comprises a receiver and a transmitter.
 7. Thewireless connection of claim 5, wherein the second peripheral devicecomprises a receiver and a transmitter.
 8. A method of managing signalsat a video device using a computer, the method comprising the acts of:receiving a television signal at the video device; upconverting thetelevision signal; transmitting the upconverted signal from the videodevice to the computer; receiving modified upconverted video at thevideo device from the computer; and downconverting said modifiedupconverted video.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the televisionsignal and the modified upconverted video are received by a receivercoupled to the video device.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thereceiver is incorporated in a box located proximate the video device.11. The method of claim 8, wherein the upconverted signals aretransmitted by a transmitter coupled to the video device.
 12. The methodof claim 11, wherein the transmitter is incorporated in a box locatedproximate the video device.
 13. A method of managing a video signal witha computer, the method comprising the acts of: receiving an upconvertedvideo signal at the computer from a video device; downconverting theupconverted video signal; processing the downconverted video signal bythe computer to produce digital video data; converting the digital videodata into modified video; upconverting the modified video; andtransmitting the upconverted modified video from the computer to thevideo device.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the processing stepfurther comprises the acts of: tuning the downconverted signal toprovide an analog composite video signal; separating the modified videointo vertical blanking interval data and a digital video signal;manipulating the vertical blanking interval data within the computer tocreate digital data; and combining the digital data with the digitalvideo signal to create the digital video data.
 15. The method of claim13, wherein the upconverted video signal is received by a receivercoupled to the computer.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein thereceiver is incorporated in a box located proximate the computer. 17.The method of claim 13, wherein the upconverted modified video istransmitted by a transmitter coupled to the computer.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the transmitter is incorporated in a box locatedproximate the computer.